Fees and funding

Continuing students will be contacted by SFE to prompt them to apply in due course. 

Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) Information

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) no longer provides funding to Higher Education Institutions to teach students who are studying for a qualification that is equivalent to, or lower than, a qualification which they have already achieved.

Please note that public funding for courses will not be available to the following categories of students:

• Those classified as either Home, EU or Islands for tuition fee purposes wishing to undertake an undergraduate or postgraduate (taught) programme of study which leads to the award at an equivalent or lower level than a qualification already held.
• To determine if you are within the ELQ category, please compare the highest qualification you currently hold against the qualification you are applying to study for, noting that if you have studied for, but neither completed nor gained the award for which you were registered, then such study is not relevant for the purposes of ELQ classification.

If you fall into any of the following categories, ELQ classification does not apply:

• You are classified as 'Overseas' or 'Student Visa' for tuition fee purposes
• The qualification for which you wish to study is a Foundation degree
• You are in receipt of the Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA)
• You are on a full-time undergraduate course which leads on successful completion, to registration with the Architects Registration Board (ARB)

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland who were living in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

The EUSS means citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland will be able to stay and continue to work, study and access benefits and services such as NHS healthcare broadly on the same basis as they currently do. It is free to apply. If you want to stay in the UK you’ll have until 30 June 2021 to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Thankfully, you can apply with any smartphone using their online app.

EU nationals that have arrived in the UK before 31st December 2020 have until 30th June 2021 to apply for the EUSS. Those that arrive after 31st December 2020 will need to apply for a student visa under the new Points Based System (PBS). 

More information can be found on the UK Government website about the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and the Student Visa and Points Based System (PBS). You can also use the government’s Visa Questionnaire to check your own personal circumstances.

If you are an Irish national, Brexit will not change your status as Irish nationals are automatically deemed to hold settled status in the UK. This means you are not required to do anything as a result of Brexit and you would be eligible for Student Finance subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements.

The process for determining your Fee status and Financial eligibility is determined by a number of factors. 

Those students who are currently living in the UK who are from the EEA or Switzerland and have Settled status are eligible for ‘Home’ fee status and tuition fee/maintenance loan support with 3+ years’ residency.

Those students who are currently living in the UK who are from the EEA or Switzerland with Pre-settled status and 3+ years’ residency in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA and Switzerland are also eligible for ‘Home’ fee status and tuition fee/maintenance loan support. 

Our Admissions team will be able to assess your tuition fee status during the application process.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

Gov.uk contains extensive information, advice and guidance on coming to study in the UK. This is also where you would start your application for either the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) or a Student Visa

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) offers advice for international students in the UK

Universities UK (UUK) is the Higher Education sector’s representative body, providing guidance for university staff and students

For any additional queries, please get in touch with us.